The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB.
The Social Economy Pledge
Coordinated by Social Enterprise Scotland, the following organisations have come together to invite candidates in the May 2021 Scottish Parliament election to sign up to the #SocialEconomyPledge.
Community Resources Network Scotland; Co-operatives UK; Scottish Community Alliance; Scottish Federation of Housing Associations; SCVO; SenScot; Social Enterprise Scotland; Voluntary Health Scotland; Edinburgh Social Enterprise
The Pledge
Scotland’s social economy is made up of a diverse mix of innovative community organisations. They form part of the movement for an inclusive, wellbeing economy.
From charities to social enterprises, co-operatives, CICs, development trusts, social housing providers, voluntary groups and more, they empower excluded people, regenerate communities and drive our economy.
During the pandemic lockdown these people and organisations have demonstrated huge creativity and flexibility - stepping up and leading the way in local communities in every part of Scotland.
Their role in building a new, inclusive economy is vital to Scotland’s success. A genuine wellbeing economy can only be achieved where these organisations are at the heart of social renewal and recovery.
We’re an alliance of leading membership and support bodies who passionately believe in the power of these organisations to drive post-lockdown change. We’re urging every political party and election candidate to pledge to champion the third sector and its role in Scotland’s future:
- People - To recognise the vital role of charities, social enterprises and community groups in supporting and empowering the most excluded and at-risk in society.
- Economy - To appreciate the importance of these community groups in building local economies, providing jobs, trading goods and services and regenerating neighbourhoods.
- Place - To recognise that the best solutions to society’s challenges are often found at a local level and decisions are best made at a local level whenever possible.
- Big picture - To understand that a wellbeing economy, community wealth building and a green recovery can only be achieved with these organisations leading the way.
- Policy - To support policies that lead to the growth, success and sustainability of charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups.
- Collaboration - To support a continued partnership approach between government, charities, social enterprises and other sectors.
Sign the pledge
If you are a candidate for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, please send an email Susan Smith from your party/campaign email address with the name of the constituency or electoral region you are standing in.
Signatories
Scottish National Party
- Jamie Hepburn, Candidate for Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
- John Swinney, Candidate for Perthshire North
- Shirley-Anne Somerville, Candidate for Dunfermline
- Alasdair Allan, Candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar
- Jenny Gilruth, Candidate for Mid Fife and Glenrothes
- Audrey Nicoll, Candidate for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine
- Heather Anderson, Candidate for South Scotland
- Collette Stevenson, Candidate for East Kilbride
- George Adam, Candidate for Paisley
- Moraig Henderson, Candidate for Mid Scotland and Fife
- Alex Kerr, candidate for Glasgow Region
- Christina Cannon, Candidate for Glasgow
- Paul Wheelhouse, Candidate for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency
- Michelle Campbell, Candidate for West Scotland List
- Tom Wills, Candidate for Shetland
- Lorna Douglas, Candidate for West Scotland
- Clare Adamson, Candidate for Motherwell and Wishaw
- Stacy Bradley, Candidate for South Scotland
- Roza Salih, Candidate for Glasgow
- Toni Giugliano, Candidate for Dumbarton
- Stefan Hoggan, Candidate for Mid Scotland & Fife
- Annette Ireland, Candidate for West Scotland
- Lynne Short, Candidate for North East Scotland
- Natalie Don, Candidate for Renfrewshire North & West
- Tom Arthur, Candidate for Renfrewshire South
- Ben Macpherson, Candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith
- Emma Harper, Candidate for Galloway & West Dumfries
- Colin Beattie, Candidate for Midlothian North & Musselburgh
- Michael Matheson, Candidate for Falkirk West
- James Dornan, Candidate for Glasgow Cathcart
- John Mason, Candidate for Glasgow Shettleston
- Paul McLennon, Candidate for East Lothian
- Evelyn Tweed, Candidate for the Stirling
Scottish Greens
- Anthony Carroll, Candidate for Glasgow
- Erin Crawley, Candidate for West Scotland
- Ross Collins, Candidate for West Scotland
- Ben Parker, Candidate for Lothian
- Maggie Chapman, Candidate for North East Scotland
- Evelyn Weston, Candidate for Lothian
- Steve Burgess, Candidate for Lothian
- Laura Moodie, Candidate for South Scotland
- Charles Strang, Candidate for South Scotland
- Dr Barbra Harvie, Candidate for South Scotland
- Jon Molyneux, Candidate for Glasgow
- Phyl Meyer, Candidate for Highlands and Islands
- Jeroen van Leeuwen, Candidate for Mid Scotland and Fife
- Mark Ruskell, Candidate for Mid-Scotland and Fife region
- Rachel Shanks, Candidate for North East Scotland
- Alys Mumford, Candidate for Lothian
- Kate Nevens, Candidate for Lothian
- Anne Thomas, Candidate for Highlands and Islands region
- Marion Robertson, Candidate for Mid-Scotland and Fife region
- Sylvia Hardie, Candidate for North East Scotland region
Scottish Labour
- Owen Wright, Candidate for Dundee City East
- Graeme McKenzie, Candidate for Angus South
- Claire Baker, Scottish Labour and Co-operative candidate for Kirkaldy
- Marion Donaldson, Candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
- Martin Whitfield, Candidate for East Lothian
- Louise McPhater, Candidate for Cunninghame South
- Rhoda Grant Scottish Labour Co-operative candidate for Inverness & Nairn
- Kirsteen Sullivan, Candidate for Linlithgow
- Shaun Fraser, Candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar
- Monica Lennon, Candidate for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse
- Sarah Boyack, Scottish Labour and Cooperative candidate for Lothian
- Archie Dryburgh, Candidate for Galloway and West Dumfries
- Nairn L McDonald, Candidate for West Scotland
- Richard McCready, Candidate for North East Scotland
- Katherine Sangster Scottish Labour and Co-operative candidate for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale
- Lewis Whyte, Candidate for Argyll and Bute
- Eva Murray, Scottish Labour and Co-operative candidate for Glasgow Anniesland
- Craig Smith, Candidate for Almond Valley
- Monette Gordon, Candidate for Falkirk West
- Graeme Downie, Candidate for Aberdeenshire East
- Daniel Johnson, Candidate for Edinburgh Southern
- Frederick Hessler, Labour Candidate for Lothian
Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Michael Turvey, Candidate for Angus North and Mearns
- David Gregg, Candidate for Inverness & Nairn
- Sally Pattle, Candidate for Linlithgow
- Joe McCauley, Candidate for Glasgow Cathcart
- Caron Lindsay, Candidate for Almond Valley
- Alison Simpson, Candidate for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
- Elaine Ford, Candidate for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
- Molly Nolan, candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
- David McKenzie, Candidate for Glasgow Kelvin
- Susan Murray, Candidate for Strathkelvin & Bearsden
- Catriona Bhatia, Candidate for South Scotland region
- Carole Ford, Candidate for Glasgow Southside
- Bruce Wilson, Candidate for Edinburgh Central
- Fayzan Rehman, Candidate for Stirling
- Rebecca Bell, Candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith
- Sheila Ritchie, Candidate for Moray and region
- Jil Reilly, Candidate for Edinburgh Eastern and region
- Jacci Stoyle, Candidate for Inverclyde
Scottish Conservatives
- Maurice Golden, Candidate for Angus South
- Dean Lockhart, Candidate for Stirling
- Craig Hoy, Candidate for East Lothian / South of Scotland
- Alexander Burnett, Candidate for Aberdeenshire West
- Miles Briggs, Candidate for Edinburgh Southern.
- Ade Aibinu, Candidate for Glasgow Anniesland
- Damian Doran-Timson, Candidate for Almond Valley
- Donald Cameron, Candidate for Argyll & Bute
- Graham Simpson, Candidate for Central Scotland
- Shona Haslam, Candidate for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale
- Julie Pirone, Candidate for Renfrewshire North and West
Other
Parties
- Chris McEleny, Alba Party candidate for the West of Scotland
Partners
If your organisation would like to lend support to the pledge, please contact susan.smith@scvo.scot.